TIMIDITY OF THE EEL. 145 



allows itself to be carried by the stream to the lake, where 

 the lek is held." 



The eel is afraid of noises. Of thunder he has great 

 dread, and during its continuance is always in motion. 

 Should a thunder-storm arise in the daytime, he at once 

 leaves his place of concealment, as is manifest from his being 

 frequently taken in nets at such times. 



This fish is also afraid of ^bright objects, which it carefully 

 avoids when such come in its way. Fishermen aver, indeed, 

 that if a birch pole, stripped of its bark, is sunk to the 

 bottom of the stream, no eel will venture to pass over it. 



It may not be generally known that the eel can move as 

 rapidly backwards as forwards. Hence when entrapped, if he 

 can once get his tail through the interstices of his prison, he 

 usually manages to set himself free. 



The eel, as is well known, is very tenacious of life. In 

 parts of Sweden the fisherman, to prevent its getting out 

 of the boat, after wrapping the skirt of his coat, or what not, 

 around the fish, grasps it near the head, and bites it across 

 the neck, so that the spine is crushed, and death ensues. 



Formerly all sorts of tales were told as to the propagation 

 of eels. As for instance, that they were bred from manure, 

 from the bodies of decomposed animals, from placing toge- 

 ther two tufts of grass wet with dew 7 ; as also, that they 

 could be produced at pleasure by merely casting small pieces 

 of eel-skin into still water, &c. Even to this day, the com- 

 mon people in some parts of Sweden, firmly believe that 

 all the eels in any one lake are born of a common mother, 

 and that such a general parent is found in every lake inha- 

 bited by this fish. 



For a long time it was a disputed point as to whether the 



VOL. i. L 



